Books for Preschoolers

Shareable books to get your preschooler ready to read, full of appealing artwork, concepts and phrases. For more guidelines on finding books to share with your preschooler, check out our printable pamphlet.

Updated November 7, 2024
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1

What Riley wore
Arnold, Elana K.
Paper Book
Gender-creative Riley knows just what to wear for every occasion during a busy week with family and friends in this sweet and timely picture book from Elana K. Arnold and Linda Davick. Riley wears whatever clothes feel right each day. On Monday, Riley feels shy and wears a bunny...

2

Extra yarn
Barnett, Mac.
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen comes Extra Yarn, a Caldecott Honor Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, and a New York Times bestseller. A young girl and her box of magical yarn transform a community in this stunning picture...

3

One day in the eucalyptus, eucalyptus tree
Bernstrom, Daniel
Paper Book
One day in the leaves of the eucalyptus tree, hung a scare in the air where no eye could see, when along skipped a boy with a whirly-twirly toy, to the shade of the eucalyptus, eucalyptus tree.

4

Maria had a little llama
Dominguez, Angela N.
Paper Book
Everyone knows about Mary and her little lamb. But do you know Maria? With gorgeous, Peruvian-inspired illustrations and English and Spanish retellings, Angela Dominguez's Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía Una Llamita gives a fresh new bilingual twist to the...

5

I really want to see you, Grandma
Gomi, Taro
Paper Book
Yumi and her grandmother have the same great idea: They want to see each other! So, they each head out to do just that, only to completely bypass each other along the way! That's OK - they'll just head back home and wait for the other to return. The trouble is that they have the same great...

6

We don't eat our classmates!
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
A fresh take on first-day-of-school-jitters with Penelope Rex, a dinosaur with a taste for children, from the author of the New York Times bestselling MOTHER BRUCE series, Ryan T. Higgins. It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her...

7

Green pants
Kraegel, Kenneth
Paper Book
For kids who march to their own drummer -- or are especially attached to a comfort object -- here is a completely adorable character who wears his singularity in style. Jameson only ever wears green pants. When he wears green pants, he can do anything. But if he wants to...

8

A big mooncake for Little Star
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
A gorgeous picture book that tells a whimsical origin story of the phases of the moon, from award-winning, bestselling author-illustrator Grace Lin Pat, pat, pat... Little Star's soft feet tiptoed to the Big Mooncake. Little Star loves the delicious...

9

Julián is a mermaid
Love, Jessica
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Winner of a 2019 Stonewall Book Award In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world. While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela...

10

When Aidan became a brother
Lukoff, Kyle
Paper Book
Stonewall Book Award Winner - American Library Association (ALA) This sweet and groundbreaking picture book, winner of the 2020 Stonewall Book Award, celebrates the changes in a transgender boy's life, from his initial coming-out to becoming a big brother. When Aidan was born...

11

Drawn together
Lê, Minh
Paper Book
The recipient of six starred reviews and the APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature!   Named a Best Book of 2018 by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Smithsonian, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Booklist, the...

12

A family is a family is a family
O'Leary, Sara
Paper Book
When a teacher asks her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different, but the same in one important way ... When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways --...

13

The tortoise & the hare
Pinkney, Jerry
Paper Book
This lavish, highly-acclaimed rendition of Aesop's most beloved fable about grit, hope, and resilience is brought to life by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Jerry Pinkney.   This nearly wordless companion to the Caldecott Medal-winning The Lion & the...

14

This story is for you
Pizzoli, Greg
Paper Book
A tender lapsharing book that appreciates difference as the foundation of life-long friendship, from three-time Geisel Award recipient Greg Pizzoli In this sweet story by an acclaimed picture book creator, a simple "It's nice to know you" holds so much...

15

My papi has a motorcycle
Quintero, Isabel
Paper Book
A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo. A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Century When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her...

16

The adventures of Beekle : the unimaginary friend
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
Winner of the Caldecott Medal #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning creator Dan Santat combines classic storytelling with breathtaking art in an unforgettable tale about friendship, imagination, and the courage to find one's place in...

17

The wheels on the tuk tuk
Sehgal, Kabir
Paper Book
From the mother-son duo behind the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings comes a zany picture book about a wild ride on a tuk tuk taxi in India! This picture book brings an international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, The Wheels on the Bus, by...

18

Who wet my pants?
Shea, Bob
Paper Book
In this hilarious tale of blame, compassion, and forgiveness, a very embarrassed bear is reminded that accidents can happen--but with the support of good friends, life goes on. Reuben the bear's got donuts for everyone in his scout troop, but his friends are...

19

Is everyone ready for fun?
Thomas, Jan
Paper Book
Chicken has some unexpected and exuberant cow visitors who have exciting plans for jumping, dancing, and wiggling on his teeny-tiny couch, and Chicken is none too happy about it. That is until the fun concludes with a quiet, cozy and delicious nap for all!

20

Say zoop!
Tullet, Hervé.
Paper Book
PRESS HERE, MIX IT UP!, LET'S PLAY! and now SAY ZOOP! Collect all four interactive books from best-selling children's book author Hervé Tullet! Make some noise! Shout "OH!" Whisper "oh!" Say "Zoop"? Yes! "Zoop!" "Zoop!" "Zoop!" The newest book from...

21

They all saw a cat
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears and paws . . . and the child saw A CAT, and the dog saw A CAT, and the fox saw A CAT. Yes, they all saw the cat.' In simple, rhythmic prose and ingeniously stylized pictures, Brendan Wenzel takes young readers on a walk alongside a cat....

22

Goldilocks and the three dinosaurs
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is a new take on the fairy-tale classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears, so funny and so original--it could only come from the brilliant mind of Mo Willems, the author/illustrator of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and the Elephant and Piggie series. ...

23

The little mouse, the red ripe strawberry & the big hungry bear
Wood, Don
Paper Book
Little Mouse loves strawberries, but so does the big hungry bear . . . How will Little Mouse stop the bear from eating his freshly picked, red ripe strawberry? This classic story is beloved for its humor, expressive illustrations, and surprise ending--pure read-aloud fun!

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